Edwin mckenzie



PATENTE@ F5818 i868 ff Linx y EDWIN .lvleKElNlZIhL` OF WATERTOWN., NEWv YGRK.

Letters Patent No. 74,565, dated February 18, 1868-.

IMPROVEMENT IN 'HORSE EIAY-I'ORKSly @Llp gagnait narra tu in tipa litters @peut ma limiting pat nt tige anni.

'I0 ALL WI-IOM IT MAY CONGERN:

Be it known that I, EDWIN MCKENZUJ, of Watertown, in the county of Jefferson, and State ot` New York, have invented a new and improved Hay-Fork; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exaetdeseription thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had, to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved hay-fork, and consists in the construction ofthe locking-device, as will be hereinafter more fully described. In the accompanying drawings- Figure I is a part front, part sectional View of my improved hay-fork, and

Figures 2 and 8 are transverse sections thereof, at lines x x and y y.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts A is the central rod, of iron or\other suitable metal, of any suitable shape, to which the claws a a are pivoted at a. I rlhe bar A slides between the side strapsB B,welded together at their lower extremities, and forming a point at b. By raising or lowering the central rod A, the claws a, a are retired o1' extended through the slots b', in the side straps B. A sleeve, C, ties the straps B together at 4their upper ends, through which sleeve slides the central bar A. The side straps may be further tied by the pin or rivet D, passing through them, and through a slot, e, in the central bar A. Slips of metal may be riveted, soldered, or welded upon the side straps B, to cover the claws, or for the purpose of preventing the hay from clogging the same. On the central bar A is a stop, atf, beyond which the bar A cannot be drawn through the sleeve C, as shown in iig. 1,. The positions of the suspcndingrcye G and claws a, when the. fork is oper., are shown in red ink in iig. 1, the distance between the sleeve C. (which is secured to the strapB) and the slots b in said straps, being the same in all positions; but the stop at would, in the positionoi' the central bar shown in red ink, be at the same distance below the sleeve C as the said bar had passed through in approaching its eye Gr to the slotted portion Z of the bent lever L; or, supposing the fork to be locked, and closed in the principal position, and to be locked open, as shown in red ink, then the stop f would, inthe latter case, be below the sleeve C a distance equal to the length of the slot e, or the distance between the two holes in A, iitted to receive the bolt or pin 7i, as presently mentioned. The forli is locked by the bolt or pin h passing through a hole in one of the side straps I3, into a similar hole, fitted, to receive it, `in the side of the central bar A. This bolt is attached to the under side of the arm of the bent lever L, wnich has its ''ulerum at c, on the sleeve C. The bent arm lis provided with a slot, through which pass the central bar A and thcuppcr ends of the side straps B. The spring; K keeps bolt or pin 7i pressed against the bar A, ready to fall into the hole therein, on coming opposite to it. The tripcord Mis attached tothe sleeve C at m, on the side opposite to the fulcrum c of the lever L, or to. any other convenient place on the sleeve or the hay-fork, and passed through and over t'he bent arm or trigger, Z, of the lever L. i p

To load the fork, then'rm Z is pressed down by pulling on the trip-cord, or by pinching it towards m, withdrawing 'the bolt 7i., and the centra-l bar drawn up between the side straps, and through the sleeve C, until stopped by the stop f, when the arm Z is let go, and the bolt 7i falls into the lower hole in A, tted to receive it. "he fork is then 'driven into the hay, straw, or other material to be raised, the arm Z again compressed, and the central bar forced down between the side straps until .the bolt 7L drops into the upper hole in A, driving out the claws a, and holding the hay, straw, er other material,Y which can then be raised into place, as desired. The trip-cord is then pulled upon, withdrawing the bolt la, when the weight of the material draws down the side straps, closing the claws, and allowing the hay or other material to fall from the fork.

I claim as new, and desire to 4secure by Letters Patent- The locking-device, constructed as described, consisting of the bent lever L, pivoted-to the sleeve C, and

rovided with the ro'ection 7L viittinrr through the stri B, into the slidino` rod A and held in lac'e b 'the p P d 7 c; o p i a 7 P y spring K, its upper end, ZL slotted for the passage o'f'the rod'A and side strips B, as herein shown and described.

EDWIN McKENZIE.

Witnesses:

A, J. IIorcnnIN, FRANK SMITH. 

